The key idea being pursued by EESG@MIT rests on the recognition of the multi-layered nature of these energy systems; the modules are highly heterogeneous and technology-specific, and their physical models are derived by domain experts. The interconnected system model is based fundamentally on general conservation laws, which, in turn allows the existence of aggregate interaction variables and their use for representing higher-level system dynamics in transparent ways.

This modeling can make use of many techniques developed in the Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems (LIDS) at MIT to solve difficult domain application problems, which, jointly, would provide reliable, resilient, sustainable and cost-effective electric energy service at value. It enables convergence of physical, cyber, economic and policy models and their inter-dependencies.

We are in the process of setting up an international scalable electric power simulator (ISEPS) that will be used for both education and research in these domain applications. Such a facility is expected to greatly help with emulation of complex SEES and, in particular, with the demonstrating and assessing of the effects of cyber designs on their performance. Applications of modeling and cyber design include large-scale terrestrial electric power systems; local terrestrial power grids (utility distribution; civil, military and naval microgrids), and, most recently, turboelectric distributed propulsion for future aircraft systems.